Have you ever noticed how difficult some subjects are for some people, and no matter how much the teacher explains it, it just seems like the content doesn’t sink in?
Well, learning difficulties have several origins, from the methodology adopted for teaching, the student’s own personality to concentration problems or neuropsychological conditions.
To enable more personalized learning, colleges are increasingly investing in solutions so that students can find the best way to learn, for example, making the student the protagonist in teaching.
On the other hand, in order to overcome learning difficulties once and for all, it is necessary to exercise self-knowledge, to find the best way to study, and, in more serious cases, even seek professional help to detect possible disorders that are blocking your learning.
So, stay with us in this post and see how the difficulty of learning can be overcome. Don’t be afraid or anxious!
What are the causes of learning difficulties in college?
As we said in the introduction, the causes of learning difficulties vary. To help you reflect on yourself and understand what is causing you to feel stressed, we have listed some of the causes that can lead to this situation of learning delay.
Difficulties in High School
It is very common for higher education students to arrive with learning difficulties that stem from high school. Here, we see a very complex issue, which includes (again) everything from the school’s pedagogical process to the student’s social reality.
One of the main issues that alarms university professors is the difficulty students have in reading and interpreting texts. This is proven by the 2018 Functional Illiteracy Indicator : only 34% of these students are considered proficient in writing and interpreting texts of any nature ― all the other 66% have difficulties.
Neurological disorders
Did you know that concentration difficulties and learning disabilities can be caused by neurological disorders that have been present since childhood? Yes, a hyperactive child or one who is behind in school often needs professional support in order to detect more serious problems.
When this does not happen, the child may suffer serious consequences in adulthood. Among these disorders, some of the most common are:
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): is a neurological disorder that causes inattention, impulsivity and restlessness. It has genetic causes and can accompany a person for the rest of their life;
- depression: is a serious psychiatric illness that causes feelings of sadness, bitterness, hopelessness, guilt and low self-esteem. It is the main reason for disability in people in the world, according to the United Nations (UN) ;
- difficulty with vision and hearing: when there is difficulty seeing any type of information at a distance considered “normal” or understanding what the teacher is saying.
Failure to recognize one’s own learning style
Each person has a dominant learning profile that will accompany them throughout all stages of life, including determining their professional style. Often, a subject in college is difficult because the way we are studying does not match our profile. There are 3 basic learning profiles:
- auditory : retains information more easily when listening to it (recording classes, listening to podcasts, etc.);
- kinesthetic : likes activities involving movement, so prefers practical classes, such as laboratory activities and projects;
- visual : is someone who needs to write down information, make diagrams and record everything in a way that organizes the content.
What are the best tips for overcoming learning difficulties?
With the exception of learning disabilities, it is generally possible to overcome difficulties and greatly improve your performance in college by adopting some good practices. Take a look!
Discover your learning style
Well, you already know that a person can be auditory, kinesthetic or visual in their way of learning. Do a reflection exercise, analyze how the content is fixed in your mind more easily and discover what your learning type is .
Recognize a possible gap arising from primary school
Do you suspect that some problem you faced during elementary and high school may be hindering your performance in college? Then, don’t despair. Reflect on what these difficulties are and seek academic support , so that you can go through a leveling that guarantees full follow-up in all subjects.
Request professional guidance
During their academic journey, some students may question whether they have made the right career choice . This doubt can lead to learning difficulties, which can undermine the motivation to continue studying. Therefore, a good solution is professional guidance , which helps people at different stages of their careers – even experienced professionals – to find their way in their chosen profession or to move to another one .
Create a study routine
Without a study routine , it can be difficult to retain a large amount of content. Therefore, one of the main ways to overcome the difficulty of learning is through daily planning.
To do this, divide your time wisely and focus on the subjects you have the most difficulty with. Also, use tools that facilitate learning, such as videos and apps, and persist in training each content.
Adopt mnemonics
Incorporate mnemonics into your study routine. This is a technique that helps us remember large amounts of information. You can create a song, rhyme, acronym, image, or saying. Mnemonics are particularly useful when the order of things is important, such as mathematical reasoning or a hospital procedure.
Overcome procrastination
Procrastination is one of the main problems for those who want to overcome the difficulty of learning. So, don’t just “put the problem under the rug”, because you only have to lose. Face the situation head on and develop strategies to overcome it.
If you only remember that you’re not learning as much as you should when the tests come around, it’s already too late. You’ll create a situation of emotional stress, which will only hinder your learning even more.
When you realize that learning difficulties are overriding a simple study organization strategy, you need to look at the issue more deeply. Therefore, notice how you are feeling about college, analyze your behavior in the classroom and notice if you have any physical or mental symptoms that are affecting your performance.
From this point on, it is essential to seek specialized help, which could be from a doctor, psychologist or even a professional counselor. The goal is to find the correct diagnosis for your deficit and propose the best solutions, such as therapy, guidance or health treatment.
We hope that you can now overcome the difficulty of learning once and for all. With these tips and information, you will easily become a standout in college!